Day 1 : Arrival Auckland
No need to learn to drive on the other side and juggle a map after
such a long flight! You will be met by a private driver/guide who will greet
you and take you on an Auckland City Highlights Tour on the way to the city.
Sights can include the Auckland Domain with its' many gardens and Auckland
Museum, Parnell with its' boutique shops and cafes, the Rose Garden, One
Tree Hill with its' 360° view, historic Devonport village and The Royal
Yacht Club Squadron with the America's Cup Trophy. After your introduction
to our 'City of Sails', you will be transferred to your accommodation. The
rest of the day is free to explore Auckland on your own.
Day
2 : Auckland - Bay of
Islands
Your rental car will be delivered to your hotel this morning. Today you
will head north out of Auckland travelling over the famous Harbour Bridge.
You will pass rural countryside and small seaside townships as you journey
to the Bay of Islands. We suggest taking the coast road up to the Bay of
Islands so you can enjoy the Matakohe Kauri Museum and drive through the
amazing Waipoua Kauri Forest where you can see the granddaddy of all trees "Tane
Mahuta", who is over 2000 years old. A bit further north is Opononi
where the huge 300 metre high sand dunes are located.
Day 3 : Bay
of Islands
Treaty of Waitangi Historic Reserve, sailing, boat cruises, big game
fishing, Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach, it's all here for you to enjoy
on this day.
Day 4 : Bay of Islands -
Auckland -
Christchurch
A short morning flight delivers you back to Auckland Airport where you
connect with your next flight to Christchurch, known as 'The Garden City'.
This english flavoured city is lovely with the Avon River meandering through
the city, its tree lined streets, grand cathedral and many art galleries,
museums and street side cafes. You will pick up your next rental car upon
arrival at the airport then you will have time today to enjoy a taste of
Christchurch.
Day 5 : Christchurch
options
Options on this day are an additional cost to the tour price. Today you
have a choice of destinations. You can further enjoy Christchurch or choose
a day trip to one of the surrounding regions. Kaikoura: You may choose to
travel up the East Coast to the seaside town of Kaikoura. Once a whaling
station, it is now the centre for wildlife conservation. Seals, whales,
dolphins and pelagic birds are abundant in Kaikoura. You have the option of
a whale watch, dolphin watch (or swim), seal watch (or swim) or bird viewing
trip. Arthur's Pass: You may choose to travel on one of those really great
day tours that we are proud to include! First you coach then you jet boat,
transfer to a four wheel drive vehicle over farmland, enjoy lunch at a sheep
station and finish off with a train ride back to Christchurch…all in
one day! Akaroa: You may choose to visit Akaroa, a simply charming harbour
side village. Enjoy a scenic winery, cheese factory, harbour cruises to see
the Hector dolphins (only found in NZ) and lovely rolling landscapes.
Day 6 : Christchurch
- Mount Cook & Glaciers
Travel today takes you over the patchwork of the Canterbury Plains as you
travel to our highest mountain, Mount Cook. You will pass large high country
sheep stations, small farming communities, Lake Tekapo with its' Church of
the Good Shepard and Lake Pukaki. With weather on your side you have the
opportunity to take a helicopter scenic flight including panoramic views of
Franz & Fox Glaciers, Mt Cook and a snow landing. Enjoy the luxurious
alpine air and remember to look at the stars in the evening - the crisp
mountain air offers some of the best star gazing opportunities in the
country.
Day 7 : Mount Cook -
Queenstown
Should Mother Nature offer a clear day - the sight of the morning sun on Mt
Cook is one to remember for a lifetime. After exploring the nearby glacier
lake, Salmon farm and perhaps a hike at the National Park, you head to the
adventure capital of NZ. Queenstown is a combination of Aspen and
Disneyland! Endless opportunities to cruise, soar, golf, jump, bike, taste,
climb and shop abound in this charming lakeside resort town.
Day 8 : Queenstown
Free Day
Enjoy a full day to indulge in Queenstown.
Day 9 : Queenstown
- Te Anau
Today you may want to enjoy a bit more of the bustle of Queenstown and head
late to Te Anau or you may choose to journey right away to the quiet nature
of Fiordland. It is an easy two and a half hour drive between Queenstown and
Te Anau
Day 10 : Te Anau - Milford Sound - Te Anau
Enjoy a small group tour to Milford Sound (up to 12 people). The trip
includes transport between Te Anau and Milford Sound with short hikes along
the way with your guide to introduce you to the flora, fauna and history of
the region. You will travel through rainforest bush, sheer cliffs dressed in
multiple waterfalls and through Homer's Tunnel, an amazing demonstration of
the pioneers' sheer determination to build a passageway! There are many
photo stops along the way and since you are in a small van (as opposed to
the huge coaches that usually brings tourists) there are opportunities to
stop at special places where the big buses can't fit! Upon arrival at
Milford Sound you will board a boat for a two hour cruise through the
glacier created, dramatic landscape. It is like a journey to pre-historic
times. A picnic lunch will be enjoyed during the cruise. The cruise included
on this trip is the morning trip on a small boat that specialises in
wildlife viewing which avoids the "Queenstown Tour Bus Invasion boats"
at 1:00pm! Back to Te Anau at around 5pm.
Day 11 : Te Anau -
Queenstown -
Rotorua
The drive from Te Anau back to Queenstown is the same route you drove down
on a couple days prior. There is an old steam train, "The Kingston
Flyer" that offers an interesting stop along the way. Upon arrival at
Queenstown you hop on a two hour flight that takes you back to the North
Island and the tourism mecca of Rotorua. Rotorua is known for its active
thermal reserves with geysers, steaming vents, and bubbling mud, Maori
cultural encounters and great trout fishing. It is a region that caters to
the international traveller.
Day 12 : Rotorua
A full day to experience a tour that takes in Rotorua's most beautiful
scenery with an entertaining and informative Maori guide. Your guide will be
offering Maori history, stories and legends throughout the day. You will
visit a thermal reserve, soak in a natural hot stream, then you embark on a
four wheel drive tour and enjoy a bush camp lunch. A stroll through thick
native bush brings you to your final stop at the picturesque Tarawera Falls.
Day
13 : Rotorua - Taupo -
Waitomo Caves
Time to leave the thermal activity and lakes of Rotorua for a different
type of landscape. Travel one hour south to Lake Taupo to see the country's
largest lake and the powerful Huka Falls before proceeding to the magical
limestone caves of Waitomo. You may choose a mild cave encounter like a
visit to the Glow Worm Cave where you can see valleys of stalagmites and
stalactites and then float gently in a boat with just the light from its
resident glow worms to illuminate the way. Or you may choose a more
adventurous cave encounter like black water rafting, abseiling into caves or
cave crawling.
Day 14 : Waikato/King Country -
Auckland
You may have time this morning to further explore the caves, enjoy a
thoroughbred stud farm tour if overnighting at Cambridge or head up to
Auckland for some last minute shopping before your International flight
home.
Other
New Zealand Tour Packages...
